Thursday, 19 January 2012

the wards in jarndyce

The lovely and thoughtful Rosalind recently asked who among her readers uses literature and film as influences in getting dressed. I'm guessing many of us, but I will say that I love literary inspiration. I have already dressed up as a Victorian orphan (here) but sometimes the influences are more subtle.

In Charles Dickens' Bleak House Richard and Ada are pulled before the courts in Chancery Lane, as claimants in Jarndyce and Jarndyce, a case involving a fortune which has dragged on for so long no one can see the end of it. They become the wards of Jarndyce, and go to live in the paradoxically idyllic Bleak House, but the long shadow of hopes and aspirations, always thwarted by the dithering ways of the Victorian British courts, already has a deathly hold upon one of them.

If you're wondering what on earth this has to do with my outfit... a Miss Flite lives in a tiny dreary flat in Chancery, herself a former ward of the courts, herself waiting for a settlement that may never come, and keeps in her room flocks of caged birds-- named Hope, Joy, Youth, Rest, Peace, Want, Ashes, Life, Waste, Dust, Madness, Despair, Death, Words, Wigs, Rags, Folly, Cunning, Jargon, Precedent, Sheepskin, Gammon, Plunder and Spinach--to be released upon the "day of judgement." And through the course of the story she adds two more little birds to their number, named "The Wards in Jarndyce."

Ah Dickens at his long-winded, sentimental, delightful, nonsensical and profound best. I hope my robin necklace and empty-birdcage skirt do Miss Flite a modicum of justice.

such a cute outfit, I love your skirt! very pretty. Getting inspiration from books sounds like a great idea, I will make sure to try it ^^ I would most likely base it off of Norwegian Wood by Murakami, the way he describes Midori visually is definitely a way I'd dress~

What a skirt! I loved the references immediately - as I am currently making my way through Bleak house, alongside various other books. Dickens' characters are always so intriguing, and often inspiring too. Have you seen the excellent BBC adaptation? Thank you for referencing me, and what a fabulous set of photos!

Emily, Emily, Emily. Your Snoozer Loser skirt looks sooo good with those boots! Literary inspiration is always fun. While I've never read Bleak House (or much Dickens for that matter), I'd say from your description that you have indeed done Miss Flite justice.

i haven't read much dickens. okay, i'll admit, i've only read "a tale of two cities" and though i liked it at the time (10th grade) i haven't been inspired to read him since. this book sounds much more my style!

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I've spent my twenties as a nomad in Scotland, Catalonia, Mexico, South Africa, England and my native Canada, trying to make one suitcase (and a much-too-heavy carry-on bag) stretch as far as they can. The search continues for the magical ruby slippers, but here are the journeys without them so far. Email me at rubyslipperjourneys(at)gmail(dot)com